[Himeji City] Learn about azuki beans at the Azuki Museum run by Gozakou. Restaurant and factory experience too!

• Table of Contents
• A museum where you can learn about the history and culture of adzuki beans
• Enjoy the museum even more with a factory tour, cooking experience, and azuki bean craft experience
• A factory shop where you can taste freshly made "Gozasoro"
• Great value 1-day bus pass
• basic information

A museum where you can learn about the history and culture of adzuki beans

The Azuki Museum is about a 15-minute walk east from JR Himeji Station along the Shinkansen elevated tracks. If you are taking a bus from Himeji Station, board the Shinki Bus at the JR Himeji Station South Exit bus stop and walk a short distance from Koaho Kita.

The museum grounds are surrounded by trees and are a lush green space. There are waterfalls and a pond, and the entrance to the museum is just a stone bridge away, listening to the cool sound of the stream.

The grounds are surrounded by trees and feature a waterfall, making it a hidden healing spot.

The first floor of the Azuki Museum is an exhibition floor where you can learn about azuki beans, including familiar azuki foods, cultivation methods, domestic and international varieties, and their origins.

We eat adzuki beans every day without even thinking about it, but there are many things we don't know, such as when they started to be eaten, what kind of flower they bloom into, and what varieties there are.

If you take your time to look at the exhibits, you will become interested in the profound world of azuki beans, and time will fly by.

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum/Diorama

There are also video sections scattered throughout the museum, designed to make learning easy for children. The 30-minute diorama video "In Search of the Roots of Azuki Beans" gives a detailed introduction to the beginnings of azuki bean culture. It is recommended for those who want to learn about the history of azuki beans in depth.

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum

Photography is generally not permitted inside the museum, but you can take photos of this "10x Erimo Shouzu" model. Erimo Shouzu is a variety of adzuki bean and is known as the "king of adzuki beans." It is enlarged 10 times, so you can easily see the shape of the leaves and pods!

Surrounding the model are a row of large photographs on the wall showing the process of azuki bean growth. There is also footage of azuki beans blooming and leaves going into climax, so be sure to check it out.

On the second floor, you can learn about seasonal azuki foods, folk tales and proverbs that feature azuki beans, the process of making bean paste, etc. In the large-screen high-definition theater, a story-like film called "The Story of Azuki Beans" (about 20 minutes) is screened.

The library corner also has a selection of books, picture books, and materials about azuki beans.

A corner where azuki beans are explained in a rakugo style

Photo spot with face-in panel

There is a restaurant on the second mezzanine floor of the museum where you can enjoy red bean dishes. The spacious interior is very bright with sunlight streaming in through the windows, creating an open and airy space. Outside the window is a garden, so you can dine while looking out at the greenery of the trees.

The restaurant's popular menu item is the limited-edition "Azuki Gozen" (1,650 yen), which includes stewed pumpkin and azuki beans, azuki bean tempura, azuki bean sesame tofu, udon noodles, pickles, red rice (or multigrain rice), azuki bean soft serve ice cream, and azuki tea.

We recommend the azuki soft serve ice cream and azuki tea served after the meal. The soft serve ice cream has a strong azuki bean sweetness and aroma, and once you try it you'll want to eat it again.

Also, the azuki tea, made by boiling roasted azuki beans, has the aroma of azuki beans but is not heavy and is surprisingly easy to drink! This is a meal where you can enjoy azuki beans until the very end.

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum/Red and white zenzai is also popular

Once you've thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and restaurant, head to the museum shop to check out the original goods, azuki-dyed products, and Azuki-san goods.

A popular item is the "Eraser" (200 yen) in the shape of the "Gozasoro" box. It is so faithfully reproduced down to the smallest detail that it's almost a shame to use it. It also makes a great gift.

The "Strap" (600 yen) with a miniature "Gozasoro" is also popular for its cuteness. There are two types, red bean paste and white bean paste, so why not choose your favorite design?

In addition, there is a lineup of goods featuring Azuki-san, the original character of the Azuki Museum. Be sure to check out the stationery that can only be purchased at the museum, such as ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, stickers, and stamps.

Enjoy the museum even more with a factory tour, cooking experience, and azuki bean craft experience

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum

You can observe the bean paste making process at the factory located on the grounds of Gozasoro headquarters. Participation requires prior reservation and takes about 30 minutes. The tour is free and includes explanations from a tour guide. You may discover something new by learning about how the bean paste in "Gozasoro" is made. Those who wish to participate can make reservations on the website, so please apply by the day before.

Factory Tour

Closed: Tuesdays

* New Year's holiday closure times: 11:00-11:30 (approximately 30 minutes)

*Advance reservations required Number of participants: 1-9 people (1-15 people including other groups)

Cost: Free

*Please note that wheelchairs and strollers are not permitted during the tour as there are long stairs to climb and descend.

Reservation site: https://gozasoro.rsvsys.jp/reservations/calendar?category=1

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum

For those who want to try out making things, we recommend the paid craft and cooking experiences. The cooking experience, where you can make sweets using red beans, is popular with families with children. Children of elementary school age and above can participate.

The tour takes about 60 minutes. The content changes every two months, with the experience of making brown sugar manju in November and December 2023, and uguisu mochi in January and February 2024. Reservations are required at least 7 days before the tour date, so if you are interested, be sure to apply early.

basic information

Cooking experience

Closed: Tuesdays

*New Year's holiday closure times: 10:00~ (approx. 60 minutes)

*Advance reservations required Number of participants: 2-16 (including other groups)

Cost: 1,200 yen (tax included)

Eligibility: Elementary school students and above (elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian)

What to bring: Apron, carrying bag (for taking home)

Reservation site: https://gozasoro.rsvsys.jp/reservations/calendar?category=2

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum

In the craft experience, you will use different types of beans to create illustrations on photo frames and cork coasters.

basic information

Craft Experience

Closed: Tuesdays

* New Year's holiday special

Closing times: Anytime (no prior reservation required)

Cost: Craft 500 yen, mini craft 300 yen (tax included)

Target: Visitors to the Azuki Museum What to bring: Not required

A factory shop where you can taste freshly made "Gozasoro"

Photo courtesy of Azuki Museum

On the premises, there is a factory shop where "Gozasoro" is demonstrated and sold.

In the store, you can purchase freshly baked "Gozasoro" (110 yen each), as well as "Azuki Soft Serve Ice Cream" (regular 320 yen, mini 280 yen), which is only available at the factory shop, "Meat Buns" (160 yen), "Ice Cream Bars" (140 to 160 yen), and "Azuki "Red" Tea" (1,350 yen).

At the live sales, they only start baking after receiving an order, so you can always enjoy freshly baked "Gozasoro." There are also table seats inside the store, so you can enjoy piping hot "Gozasoro" on the spot, which is a nice touch.

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Freshly baked "Gozasoro". It takes about 15 minutes to bake.

The crispy texture on the outside is the best thing about freshly baked bread! The balance of the sweetness of the red beans and the bean paste is perfect, and it will have you smiling. We recommend trying both the red and white bean paste. Of course, you can also take them out, so please make a great souvenir from your visit.

"Gozasoro" is a local sweet that is familiar in Himeji and other parts of the Kansai region. It is recommended to learn about Japanese food culture through the red beans that are essential to "Gozasoro". If you want to learn more, you can also participate in factory tours, cooking experiences, and craft experiences.

The Azuki Museum also has pamphlets available in English and Chinese.

(Writer: Nakata/West Plan)

*This article is current as of October 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Great value 1-day bus pass

Hyogo Amazing Pass

If you are considering traveling to Kobe and Hyogo Prefecture in addition to Himeji, we recommend this ticket! This is a great value mobile ticket that allows unlimited rides on Shinki Bus local buses and Kobe's City Loop/Port Loop for 2,500 yen per day.

Click here for details and to purchase the Hyogo Amazing Pass

Luggage storage service

Would you like to go sightseeing empty-handed?

basic information

Azuki Museum

Address: 611-1 Abo-ko, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: [Factory tour] 079-282-2311 (Head office) [Cooking experience] 079-282-2380 (Azuki Museum)

Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (entry until 16:00)

Closed: Tuesdays

Admission fee: Adults (high school students and above) 1,200 yen, elementary and junior high school students 600 yen

Access: From the south exit of JR Himeji Station, walk east along the Shinkansen overpass for about 15 minutes. From the south exit of JR Himeji Station, take the Shinki Bus and get off at Koahokita. It is a short walk from there.

Parking: Available

HP: https://www.gozasoro.co.jp/azukimuseum